Music is a funny thing. Some albums get all the praise from critics and end up on “best of” lists, but when you ask people about them, hardly anyone has actually listened to the whole thing. I’ve compiled a list of 19 albums that fit this description perfectly. They’re the darlings of music magazines and websites, but ask your friends if they’ve heard them front to back, and you’ll probably get blank stares.
Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart
This 1969 album is often called a masterpiece of experimental rock. It’s full of weird rhythms, off-key singing, and strange lyrics that don’t make much sense. Critics love how different and daring it is, but most people find it hard to listen to. Even fans of unusual music might struggle to get through the whole thing.
Metal Machine Music by Lou Reed
Lou Reed was famous for his work with The Velvet Underground, but this solo album from 1975 is nothing like his usual stuff. It’s just an hour of loud, harsh guitar feedback with no real songs. Some say it’s brilliant noise art, while others think Reed was just trying to annoy his record label. Either way, not many people choose to play it for fun.
Bitches Brew by Miles Davis
This 1970 jazz fusion album changed the way people thought about jazz. It mixes jazz with rock and funk in a way that hadn’t been done before. The songs are really long and don’t follow normal structures, which can make it tough for casual listeners. While jazz fans respect its importance, many prefer Davis’s earlier, more traditional work.
Tago Mago by Can
Can was a German band that mixed rock with electronic and world music back in 1971. Tago Mago is their most famous album, full of long jams and strange sounds. Music nerds love talking about how ahead of its time it was. But the unusual song structures and foreign-language lyrics make it a challenging listen for most people.
Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
This 1991 album basically invented the “shoegaze” genre of rock music. It’s famous for its loud, fuzzy guitar sounds that seem to swirl around your head. While it’s always on lists of the best albums ever, the noisy production and buried vocals can be off-putting to casual listeners. Many people know the album cover better than the actual songs.
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
Indie rock fans talk about this 1998 album like it’s sacred. It tells a weird story inspired by Anne Frank, using folky instruments and lots of distortion. The singer’s voice is an acquired taste, and the lyrics are pretty out there. While it has a cult following, most people find it too strange and intense for regular listening.
Passion by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel was a pop star, but this 1989 album is anything but pop. It’s the soundtrack to a movie about Jesus, full of world music influences and moody instrumentals. Critics praised how it blended different cultures’ sounds. But without catchy songs like “Sledgehammer,” most Gabriel fans don’t listen to it much.
Spirit of Eden by Talk Talk
Talk Talk started as a pop band but ended up making this very un-pop-like album in 1988. It’s quiet, slow, and doesn’t have any hit singles. The songs take their time to build up, using unusual instruments and lots of silence. Music critics call it a masterpiece, but it’s too subtle and strange for most listeners.
Geogaddi by Boards of Canada
This electronic album from 2002 is famous for its spooky, nostalgic sound. It uses old-fashioned synthesizers and samples to create a creepy atmosphere. While it’s considered a classic of electronic music, the lack of beats and melodies makes it hard for many to enjoy. It’s more like background music for an unsettling dream.
Spiderland by Slint
This 1991 album is considered a cornerstone of post-rock music. Slint created a unique sound by mixing quiet, tense passages with explosive bursts of noise. The vocals are often spoken rather than sung, telling cryptic stories over angular guitar parts. While hugely influential on other musicians, its unconventional structure and lack of catchy hooks make it a challenging listen for casual music fans.
Third by Portishead
Portishead was known for making moody trip-hop music in the 1990s. This 2008 comeback album surprised everyone by being much harsher and stranger. It uses ugly electronic sounds and off-kilter rhythms to create an anxious mood. While praised for its boldness, it’s too unsettling for most people to listen to regularly.
Yeezus by Kanye West
Kanye West was a huge pop star when he released this abrasive album in 2013. It uses harsh electronic sounds and angry lyrics to create a challenging listen. Critics praised how daring it was for such a famous artist. But many of West’s fans prefer his earlier, more melodic work.
Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü
This 1984 album helped invent alternative rock music. It tells a story about a kid running away from home, mixing punk rock energy with more complex songs. While hugely influential on other musicians, it’s a long and rough listen for most people. The low-budget recording quality doesn’t help.
Blackstar by David Bowie
Bowie’s final album, released just days before his death in 2016, is a haunting and experimental work. It mixes jazz, art rock, and electronic elements to create a unique sound. The lyrics deal with mortality in a poetic and often cryptic way. While celebrated as a powerful artistic statement, its avant-garde nature and somber tone make it a less accessible listen than Bowie’s classic hits.
Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
This 2016 hip-hop album pushes the boundaries of the genre with its abrasive production and manic energy. Brown’s unique voice delivers verses about addiction and mental health over beats that blend punk, electronic, and industrial music. Music critics praised its bold vision, but its intense sound and dark subject matter make it a tough album to casually enjoy.
The Epic by Kamasi Washington
This 2015 triple album brought jazz back into mainstream conversation. Clocking in at nearly three hours, it’s an ambitious blend of spiritual jazz, funk, and orchestral music. Critics hailed it as a modern jazz masterpiece that pushes the genre forward. But its length and complexity make it a daunting listen for those not already deeply into jazz.
Lemonade by Beyoncé
This 2016 visual album is widely regarded as Beyoncé’s masterpiece. It blends R&B, rock, country, and hip-hop while exploring themes of infidelity, black womanhood, and resilience. The album is meant to be experienced alongside its hour-long film, adding another layer of artistry. While singles like “Formation” were huge hits, the full album’s emotional intensity and genre-hopping make it a less casual listening experience.
Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
Released in 2020, this album was praised for its raw emotion and unconventional percussion. Apple recorded much of it at home, incorporating sounds from her house and dogs. The lyrics are brutally honest, dealing with trauma and empowerment. While it topped many year-end lists, its experimental nature and lack of traditional song structures make it a challenging listen for some.
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish
Eilish’s 2019 debut album shook up pop music with its whispered vocals and dark, minimalist production. It tackles heavy themes like depression and climate change with a mix of humor and horror. While singles like “bad guy” were huge hits, the full album’s moodier tracks and experimental sounds make it a less easy listening experience than typical pop records.
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